(Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera)

Gustavo Dudamel has extended his contract with the LA Philharmonic.

The orchestra announced that the conductor will remain music director with the orchestra until the 2025-26 season. Dudamel originally had a five-year contract, which was first extended through the 2018-19 season, before getting another extension halfway into 2022.

In a press release Dudamel stated, “We have a unique opportunity and responsibility in Los Angeles to unite the soul of the Americas, to build and to strengthen musical and educational bridges with our brothers and sisters here in L.A. and beyond. We have so much work still to do, but I look forward to embracing the challenges ahead and to sharing more beautiful moments together, hand in hand with my extraordinary orchestra and our leadership team.”

The Venezuelan conductor has been praised for his contributions to music education and in 2007, the LA Phil founded Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, which currently supports over 1,200 aspiring musicians in the area across four locations, with a fifth one planned in Inglewood.